The present study aimed to: (a) investigate the relationship between attitudes toward same-sex parenting and sexism both in heterosexuals and sexual minorities; (b) verify whether sexism predicted negative attitudes toward same-sex parenting via the mediating role of sexual stigma (sexual prejudice in heterosexual people and internalized sexual stigma [ISS] in lesbians and gay men [LG]). An Italian sample of 477 participants (65.6% heterosexual people and 34.4% LG people) was used to verify three hypotheses: (a) heterosexual men showed higher levels of sexism than heterosexual women and LG people; (b) heterosexual men reported more negative attitudes toward same-sex parenting than those of heterosexual women and LG people; and (c) sexual prejudice in heterosexual people and ISS in LG people mediated the relationship between sexism and attitudes toward same-sex parenting. Overall, men and heterosexual people showed stronger sexist tendencies and more negative attitudes toward same-sex parenting. Moreover, sexism affected attitudes toward same-sex parenting via sexual prejudice in heterosexual people and ISS in LG people. These results suggest that negative attitudes toward same-sex parenting reflect sociocultural inequalities based on the traditional gender belief system and points to the necessity of social policies to reduce prejudice toward sexual minority groups.

Sexism and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Parenting in a Sample of Heterosexuals and Sexual Minorities: the Mediation Effect of Sexual Stigma

The objective of this paper is a reflection on the state of the studies and research on homosexual parent families in Italy. We begin with a description of the cultural and legal context within which these new forms of parenting are now evolving to underline the need to overcome the Italian legal vacuum which has serious consequences for both the children and adults involved. We then wanted to emphasize the need to avoid old study paradigms of homosexual parent families who often faced homosexual parenting in relation to that of heterosexuals to arrive at a ‘paradigm of difference’ or rather an approach able to grasp and see the diversity and differences of homosexual parenting enabling it to take on all its challenges. In this optic, homosexuality is no longer a qualification of parenthood, but only one of the conditions within which parenting can be exercised.

http://www.italiansociologicalreview.com/ojs/index.php?journal=ISR&page=article&op=download&path%5B%5D=192&path%5B%5D=180

The State of Studies and Research on the Homosexual Parent Family in Italy

The paper presents findings from explorative research conducted in Italy with seven 9- to 12-year-old children with non-heterosexual parents. The aim was to find out how children describe their family structure, how they talk about their family with peers, and how they experience peers' attitudes towards non-heterosexual families. Findings show that children have a flexible and inclusive representation of family and they disclose selectively with their peers who don't always consider homosexuality normal and homoparental families ‘real families’. The paper concludes by suggesting that institutional recognition for same-sex parenting would support children in the everyday work of negotiating diversity.

/pdf/who-is-in-your-family-italian-children-with-non-heterosexual-2wrti4a930.pdf

‘Who is in Your Family?’ Italian Children with Non-heterosexual Parents Talk about Growing Up in a Non-conventional Household

The present contribution addresses the issue of preventing and combating gender and sex discrimination in subjects in the age of development and, specifically, children. In our society, characterized by an ideological sexist, genderist and heterocentric matrix, identities that cannot placed within the socially constructed and accepted stereotypes of normality are â€“ often â€“ victims of abuses and they are denied equal treatment. In order to raise awareness of the need to respect personal and social differences, more and more initiatives are being created aimed at promoting a non-discriminatory attitude towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, non-conforming and queer people. Among such initiatives, the construction and narration of stories for children explaining the concepts inherent in the culture of differences, are a valid tool for fostering a climate and a cultural structure free of gender and sex stigmatization and instead aiming at enhancing â€œdifferenceâ€ , considering it a positive possibility just like socially-accepted states. The essay, after a brief description of the characteristics of language, attitudes and relationship with reality in subjects in the age of development, examines the methodological and ethical approach to be used with children, so as to allow them to understand the possibility of different forms of identity and otherness. Preventing and countering prejudices arising from beliefs and social models that help in reproducing every day, in civil society, discriminations, harassment, and unequal treatment against many people, represents a mission to create and reproduce an inclusive and democratic society.

Education towards differences. Preventing gender and sex discriminations in subjects in the age of development

L’obiettivo della presente ricerca e verificare la correlazione esistente tra gli at-teggiamenti verso il matrimonio e il parenting di persone lesbiche e gay e i livelli di sessismo, omofobia sociale e stigma sessuale interiorizzato. I partecipanti sono 826 soggetti (534 F, 292 M), di eta compresa tra 18-70 anni. Il 59,8% si e definito "esclusivamente eterosessuale", il 29,2% "esclusivamente omosessuale", l’11% bisessuale. E stata riscontrata una correlazione positiva tra sessismo e omofobia e tra sessismo e stigma sessuale interiorizzato. I maschi ottengono piu alti punteggi di sessismo e omofobia. Gli eterosessuali risultano significativamente meno favo-revoli al matrimonio e alla genitorialita gay e lesbica rispetto ai non eterosessuali. I risultati offrono un contributo alla ricerca scientifica Italiana, ancora oggi carente, sulle variabili associate agli atteggiamenti verso il matrimonio e il parenting di persone dello stesso sesso.

Francesca de Palo

Papers

Le famiglie omogenitoriali in Italia. Relazioni familiari e diritti dei figli